Trump’s Jerusalem move: US warns against scrapping Abbas talks

Image copyright AFP/Getty ImagesImage caption "Pence you are not welcome", says graffiti in the West Bank city of Bethlehem

The US has warned Palestinians against cancelling talks with Vice-President Mike Pence, after Washington recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

A senior Palestinian official earlier said Mr Pence would not be welcome.

It would be "counterproductive" to scrap talks between Mr Pence and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas planned later this month, the US said.

President Donald Trump's announcement on Jerusalem this week reversed decades of US policy on Jerusalem's status.

Media playback is unsupported on your deviceMedia captionThe Israeli army fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds as Palestinian protesters burned tyres and threw stones in protests on Thursday

On Thursday, at least 31 Palestinians were wounded in clashes in the Gaza Strip and across the occupied West Bank.

Anger in the West Bank and delight in West Jerusalem

The clashes were triggered by Mr Trump's policy shift. More protests are expected in Palestinian territories on Friday, with Israel deploying hundreds of extra troops in the West Bank.

The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has already called for a new intifada, or uprising.

Trump's speech in full

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Five key takeaways from speech

How did the White House respond?

Jibril Rajoub, a senior official in Mr Abbas' Fatah party, said on Thursday Mr Pence was "not welcome" in the Palestinian territories and that the meeting would not take place.

A White House official responded by saying Mr Pence "still intends to meet Mr Abbas and Palestinian leaders and thinks any decision to pull out of the meeting would be counterproductive".

During his visit – scheduled for the second half of December – Mr Pence will also travel to Israel and Egypt.

Mr Abbas has not personally commented on the issue.

Why did Trump reverse US policy?

Mr Trump announced the move on Wednesday. The US president said: "I've judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians."

He said he was directing the US state department to begin preparations to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Despite warnings of regional unrest over any such move, the decision fulfils a campaign promise and appeals to Mr Trump's right-wing base.

Media playback is unsupported on your deviceMedia captionAnalysis: Breaking down what Mr Trump said and what it means for peace

Recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital was "nothing more or less than a recognition of reality", he added. "It is also the right thing to do."

Mr Trump said the US would support a two-state solution – shorthand for a final settlement that would see the creation of an independent Palestinian state within pre-1967 ceasefire lines in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, living peacefully alongside Israel – "if agreed to by both sides".

The Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of any future Palestinian state.

What has been the reaction?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was profoundly grateful to Mr Trump, who had "bound himself forever with the history of the capital".

He also said Israel was "in touch with other countries to follow suit". He did not name any of these countries, although the Philippines and the Czech Republic have been mentioned in Israeli media.

The mood has been very different on the Palestinian side.

The leader of Hamas, Ismail Haniya, which dominates the Gaza Strip, has called for a "day of rage" on Friday and said it should "be the first day of the intifada against the occupier".

Media playback is unsupported on your deviceMedia captionHamas leader Ismail Haniya said the announcement was a "declaration of war"

Meanwhile, the Fatah party is filing a complaint to the UN Security Council and pushing for a strong stance by the Arab League.

"We are going to declare the United States disqualified as co-sponsor of any peace process or political process," spokesman Dr Nasser Al-Kidwa said. "In our mind, it has lost its ability to do or perform any efforts in this regard."

Which countries condemned Trump's move?

There has also been widespread condemnation across the Arab and wider Muslim world, with Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warning Mr Trump that he was "throwing the region into a ring of fire".

Many of Washington's closest allies have said they disagree with the US announcement.

Both the UN Security Council and the Arab League will meet in the coming days to decide their response.

Why is the announcement significant?

Jerusalem is of huge importance to both Israel and the Palestinians. It contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths – Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and all countries maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv.

What are the alternatives to a two-state solution?

Why settlement issue is so difficult

East Jerusalem, which includes the Old City, was annexed by Israel after the Six Day War of 1967, but before now it has not been internationally recognised as part of Israel.

According to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks.